FATHERHOOD/MALE INVOLVEMENT
EightCAP, Inc. 0-5 Head Start employs a Male Involvement Coordinator who services Head Start and Early Head Start fathers in all four counties covered by EightCAP, Inc. Brian DeKraker, MSW, currently serves in that capacity, and he can be reached by calling toll free 800-221-2033 ext. 3370 or e-mailing briand@8cap.org
Currently we are working on including more men in Head Start activities. To promote this concept we held a community forum in December, 2009, for Montcalm County to solicit ideas from selected community members. We are considering the data received from the meeting at this time.
We have also been working on getting men more involved in their children's lives and schools. To that end, we provide a "Dad's Day" event in our classrooms, where men, who are important in the lives of Head Start children, are invited to spend the day with their child. During the 2009-10 school year, 203 men participated in "Dad's Day events.
We have also sponsored events just for fathers. We took a group of men to the Michigan Fatherhood Coalition Conference in February, 2010. We also held a dinner with "Dads and Dudes" event in December, 2009, where 183 men came to the centers to eat a meal and hear a story about fathers with their children.
In addition, we have a Father's Advisory Council which meets bi-monthly, and produce "The Fishin' Dock" newsletter that comes out every two months. We solicit items of interest to men for our recognition event, and staff a booth at the parent Fun Fair. Several classes just for fathers are offered each year, and 6-8 fathers are seen monthly in their homes for mentoring.
We have supplied items such as posters and children's books, that promote the theme that fathers are important, to the Head Start centers. These have been enjoyed and appreciated by staff and parents alike.
We have maintained a relationship with the Michigan Fatherhood Coalition, and have been instrumental in helping this organization to get started and grow. The Michigan Fatherhood Coalition promotes the notion that nurturing fathers produce successful children, and can be contacted through www.michiganfatherhood.org
Finally, EightCAP, Inc, 0-5 Head Start plans activities which incorporate fatherhood interaction in the day-to-day operations of the program. Our program includes many activities for the whole family, such as, parenting classes, Family Fun Nights, Walk For Warmth, Fun Fair, as well as activities at individual centers. Fathers are invited to all of these functions.
| Tips for Successful Dads |
| |
 |
10 Tips for Successful Dads
File 10 Tips.pdf uploaded on 11/28/2005 by Denise Boyce |
| |
|
Dads Make a Difference Brochure
File Brochure.pdf uploaded on 2/26/2008 by Denise Boyce |
| |
|
Resource Organizations
File Resource Organizations for Fathers.pdf uploaded on 11/28/2005 by Denise Boyce |
|
FATHERHOOD/MALE INVOLVEMENT
EightCAP, Inc. 0-5 Head Start employs a Male Involvement Coordinator who services Head Start and Early Head Start fathers in all four counties covered by EightCAP, Inc. Brian DeKraker, MSW, currently serves in that capacity, and he can be reached by calling toll free 800-221-2033 ext. 3370 or e-mailing briand@8cap.org
Currently we are working on including more men in Head Start activities. To promote this concept we held a community forum in December, 2009, for Montcalm County to solicit ideas from selected community members. We are considering the data received from the meeting at this time.
We have also been working on getting men more involved in their children's lives and schools. To that end, we provide a "Dad's Day" event in our classrooms, where men, who are important in the lives of Head Start children, are invited to spend the day with their child. During the 2009-10 school year, 203 men participated in "Dad's Day events.
We have also sponsored events just for fathers. We took a group of men to the Michigan Fatherhood Coalition Conference in February, 2010. We also held a dinner with "Dads and Dudes" event in December, 2009, where 183 men came to the centers to eat a meal and hear a story about fathers with their children.
In addition, we have a Father's Advisory Council which meets bi-monthly, and produce "The Fishin' Dock" newsletter that comes out every two months. We solicit items of interest to men for our recognition event, and staff a booth at the parent Fun Fair. Several classes just for fathers are offered each year, and 6-8 fathers are seen monthly in their homes for mentoring.
We have supplied items such as posters and children's books, that promote the theme that fathers are important, to the Head Start centers. These have been enjoyed and appreciated by staff and parents alike.
We have maintained a relationship with the Michigan Fatherhood Coalition, and have been instrumental in helping this organization to get started and grow. The Michigan Fatherhood Coalition promotes the notion that nurturing fathers produce successful children, and can be contacted through www.michiganfatherhood.org
Finally, EightCAP, Inc, 0-5 Head Start plans activities which incorporate fatherhood interaction in the day-to-day operations of the program. Our program includes many activities for the whole family, such as, parenting classes, Family Fun Nights, Walk For Warmth, Fun Fair, as well as activities at individual centers. Fathers are invited to all of these functions.
| Tips for Successful Dads |
| |
|
10 Tips for Successful Dads
File 10 Tips.pdf uploaded on 11/28/2005 by Denise Boyce |
| |
|
Dads Make a Difference Brochure
File Brochure.pdf uploaded on 2/26/2008 by Denise Boyce |
| |
|
Resource Organizations
File Resource Organizations for Fathers.pdf uploaded on 11/28/2005 by Denise Boyce |
|